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The David Project

What 47 Year Old Me Would Tell 27 Year Old Me

By Greg Johnson

So, I’m 47 today, and looking more like the guy from UP than ever (Thanks to all of you that remind me of that daily). In a moment of reflection, I feel the need to go “Mcconaughey” (If you don’t know what that means, watch his Oscar acceptance speech). If I could visit the 27 yr. old version of myself, what are some things I would say to me? Among the short list would be: mullets are no longer “in” (and you’ll go through several hair “iterations” over the next 20 years), piano lessons are worthwhile and after 1995 (spoiler alert), the Cowboys will win exactly 1 playoff game in the next 20 years! But, in an effort to dig just a little deeper…

1. You are not the hero of the story.

Trust me, you’ll try it. But your heroic efforts will look very Shakespearean in nature, so you’ll need to hear this over and over again. People fall victim to “the world revolves around me” philosophy of life all the time. But if you keep making yourself the hero of the story, it’s just not a very interesting story, regardless of what you think right now. Every time you make yourself the hero, needs have gone unmet, people have been disappointed and you’ve exchanged an adventure for a fairy-tale. But bro, when Jesus is the hero of the story, you will be able to relax, play your role and leave the miracle-working to him. Give it a rest, Annie Sullivan! (see Helen Keller)

2. Following Jesus is about FREEDOM and FORGIVENESS, not fear, shame and guilt.

You grew up in a church culture that constantly made you feel like you didn’t measure up. I know you often feel guilty or ashamed that you aren’t who you are supposed to be, which has led to secrets, hiding and falsehood. Come to find out, it was the enemy saying that all the time, not Jesus. He will do that your whole life, so clue in to it. Jesus wants you to live in freedom from condemnation and fully embrace forgiveness. You are a professional “Christian” but you are constantly looking around the corner, waiting to be found out as the fraud you think you are. It doesn’t have to be that way. I promise, Jesus can bring you freedom – the truth will set you FREE. In the words of that old lady in Poltergeist, “Run to the light, Carol Ann!”

3. Choose your battles wisely.

You are constantly ready for a scrap, mostly because of the whole “hero” thing. You get so indignant about righting the world’s wrongs. The problem is, there are too many wrongs in the world to fight. You could literally spend every waking hour in some sort of conflict, but don’t. It’s exhausting, high drama and, most of all, it DOESN’T HONOR GOD. There are things God has “…prepared in advance for you to do.” (Eph. 2:10) In contrast, there are a TON of things he wants you to stay out of because they are not your fight. If you want to know which hills to die on, lose that very large chip on your shoulder, humble yourself and ask God. And then listen – He’ll tell you when to engage and when to stand down.

4. Life is hard.

This is a fundamental truth that will serve you well. Work is hard. (That’s why it’s called “hard work”!) Friendships are hard. Even the best marriages are hard. Jesus even said, “In this life you will have trouble.” (Matt.16:33) Bottom line: there are no short cuts in life, and anybody who tries to sell you on that fact shouldn’t be trusted. The most meaningful relationships and activities in life are going to take hard work to achieve and maintain success. Your ability to hang in and fight in the face of adversity is going to reveal your character. But overall, your ability to depend on Jesus during tough times – and they’re coming – will ultimately determine your long-term success in life (see #1).

5. Love people MORE than you love yourself.

Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God and love your neighbor as much as you love yourself. This may be hard to hear, but you are pretty self-focused, and you need to love others MORE than you love yourself. This will cost you time, energy and money, but it is where life really begins. Be attuned to needs in the people around you, and with the love of Jesus seek to meet those needs. You’ll find you feel so much more fulfilled than living a selfish life, and others will be drawn to Jesus as a result.

6. Embrace the crazy.

As a friend of mine says, “It is in the crazy that amazing happens.” You will find God is in the crazy moments of life. He will tell you to do things that, on the surface, seem to make no sense. Remember when God told you to quit your job at the bank and pursue full-time ministry? It seemed crazy, since you were a newlywed, but, just so you know, it’s worked out pretty well, since I’m still in ministry today. (with a few twists and turns)The Bible is full of amazing stories that started with crazy requests from God and end with amazing results. But to see the amazing will take obedience, and, as I say to our kids (3 of them – GIRLS…YIKES!), “Understanding is not a prerequisite for obedience.” So, if you want amazing, you gotta embrace the crazy.

These are just a few things I would say to the younger version of myself in order to save him, er, I mean, me from some of the avoidable adversity of the last 20 years. And, in the process, enter into an incredible adventure with the true Hero of the story. Oh, and the winning lotto number in 1998 is 20 16 63 72 98 07…

For more information on The David Project clickhere. Editing and collaboration by Leann Francis.

I spend a lot of time in worship services. A lot. And, sometimes it is hard for me to engage because I am watching and evaluating what is happening in the room. Recently, I was in a service and observed the congregation seemed fairly apathetic about the experience. So, of course, I started evaluating the leader. Now, it is not always the leader’s fault the room feels dead. First and foremost, connection depends on the Spirit’s activity. However, there are many things that are “makers” and “breakers” in the worship experience that are completely up to the worship leader. On this particular day, I noticed the worship leader did two things that I found peculiar – the only time he opened his eyes was to look at his music stand, and he never once gave the people any direction on where he was leading them. As a result, he became a great singer singing great songs to an uninspired group of people. Something was missing.

In part one of our series on engagement, we discussed how important it is to choose great songs and develop song sets that encourage engagement. In part 2, we will look at some important on-stage skills that cultivate an engaged worship culture.

1. Eye Contact – When you have a conversation with someone, eye contact is one of the best ways to show you are engaged. This has become a problem of epic proportion with technology all around is fighting for our attention. My wife gets very frustrated with me when she is trying to talk to me and I am looking at a screen, whether it is a TV screen or my phone. The other day, we were in a somewhat distracted conversation (my fault) and finally in frustration she said with impressive emphasis and enunciation, “I am RIGHT HERE!” pointing to her eyes. So, if it’s true in one-on-one conversation, multiply by the number of people in the congregation you are leading and you get an idea of how important it is. When you are leading, you are having a conversation with the congregation, and your eyes are helping you communicate passion and conviction. So, with that in mind, here are a couple of thoughts on eye contact.

a. Open your eyes! How ridiculous would it be to have a conversation with someone with your eyes closed? Closing your eyes creates a barrier between you and people you are leading, barring the opportunity to connect with them. Now, occasionally closing your eyes may help you focus, or communicate passion or devotion, but to keep them closed all, or most, of the time (and this happens a lot) is not connecting or fostering an engaged worship culture. Truth be told, as a worship leader, you give up your personal worship experience for a corporate one. This doesn’t mean you perform, but rather you are attuned to the people you are leading and seeking to connect them to God. You have to be engaged with them for that to happen. Shutting your eyes and getting “lost” in worship is like walking out on the job and abandoning the people you are “called” to lead. If you constantly leave them to their own devices, why do they need you? Don’t kid yourself – you are not LEADING worship, but a singer posing as a leader.

Also, don’t get fixated on one point in the room, but scan it all. As a rule, I generally find people in different parts of the room, “anchor points”, who are engaged and let my eyes gravitate toward them throughout the set. It keeps my eyes moving throughout the room, and is a source of encouragement that at least a few people are with me.

b. Lose the music stand! I am a text-aholic. My phone is constantly going off throughout the day, as I am carrying on 5 different running conversations. It is CONSTANT. The problem is, it happens when I am with others. Now, I think I can multi-task and meet the needs of the person in front of me while reading and replying to my texts, but the person in front of me is getting ripped off – he doesn’t have my full attention. And, not only is it rude, but I’ve said yes to things I should’ve said no to because I wasn’t paying attention. (“Sure thing! I’d love to give your 5-year-old voice lessons…”

In the same way, the music stand in worship is taking away from giving full attention and leadership to the congregation, and has reached epidemic proportion. It’s time for us to rise up against the evil music stand empire! Ok, a bit dramatic, but seriously, it’s time… Here are a couple of reasons why this is important. First, it is the same thing as talking while texting – you are distracted. If your head is buried in a music stand, you’re not looking at the congregation, so it becomes a barrier. And, like my wife, they want to scream, “I am RIGHT HERE!” Second, it speaks to a lack of preparation. This is a bit off topic, but if worship leading is your chosen profession and you can’t play through a song without reading chords or lyrics, find something else to do. Think about what it communicates: What you are singing was not important enough to memorize and make your own. Reading off a music stand does not communicate passion and conviction, but the opposite – apathy and lack of preparation. And, let’s be honest – there are really only 4 or 5 chords in modern worship today anyway…

2. Voice Prompting – This is a great help in engagement. In short, great leaders lead both by directive and example. While it is true that worship is as much “caught” as it is taught, it is naïve and irresponsible to expect a congregation to connect simply by watching you worship. Coaching people through a worship experience puts them at ease – it is the LEADER part of worship leader. Think of it this way: If you are not coaching and encouraging people to join you, then you are simply singing AT them, which is a performance. As I said above, to lead your congregation, you will have to give up your personal worship experience for a corporate one, but the payoff is huge. There is nothing more fulfilling and God-honoring than a fully engaged room full of people. Here are some examples what voice-prompting looks like.

There are many phrases that are commonly used by worship leaders. One phrase I use liberally, especially at the beginning of a song is, “Sing this with me.” While it may seem obvious, it is a reminder to the congregation that this is not a performance. I also use phrases like, “Lift your voices,” “Sing it out” and “C’mon!” While I feel a bit like a cheerleader sometimes, it’s not about me, but connecting people with God.

Also, feeding them upcoming lyrics is a great way to let the people you are leading know where you are going. For instance, coming out of the verse of “How Great Is Our God,” I might say, “Sing How great…” The challenge is always finding a way to communicate clearly within the rhythm of the song. It can only be done well with practice and repetition. This is where talent and experience intersect with calling.

Now, there is a school of thought that says voice prompting can be a distraction. My question is, why wouldn’t you want to encourage the congregation and tell them what you want them to do? If you really want to connect them to God, coaching them with voice prompts is leading well toward the goal of engagement. And remember, you should lead the person in the room that has never experienced God in worship. If you are only “leading” those who are rabid worshippers and would naturally engage anyway, are you really leading at all?

So, based on part 1, we are choosing great songs with high repetition and putting together great sets that encourage engagement. Now in part 2, we are using our eye contact and voice prompting to communicate clearly where we are going in the worship experience. In part 3, we will discuss the importance of your team in creating an engaged worship culture.

There have been many Sundays I have been in the middle of leading a worship set and looked out into a sea of blank stares. If you’re like me, there is a mixture of frustration, insecurity and panic that can easily overtake me. Here is the running dialogue that goes through my mind:

“What’s wrong with them?”

“What’s wrong with me?”

“Seriously…what’s wrong with them?”

“They obviously can’t hear what I’m hearing in my ear mix, or they would be feeling this face-melting worship!”

“I don’t understand… ‘God’s Great Dance Floor’ killed on that YouTube video of Passion 2013! 60,000 in the Georgia Dome can’t be wrong!”

“Jesus, I know no man knows the hour you’re returning, but…”

Let’s be honest – we all envision the throngs joining in the chorus full-throated in our weekend services, with hands raised, going for it with all their might. And why not? That’s what all of the live worship videos out there show us is supposed to happen. So, it begs the questions, “Why there and not here?” and “What are they doing that I’m not?” It’s easy to beat up worship leaders for being prima donnas (sometimes with good reason). However, I have not encountered many worship leaders that don’t have a heart for Jesus. In fact, most guys I know in the worship world want to serve well and come from a good place. In the same breath, I see many worship leaders discouraged because their congregation doesn’t “get them,” or seem disengaged on Sunday mornings. So, there seems to be a disconnect between the good-hearted worship leader and the congregation he is trying to lead. If our role as worship leader is to help the people we are leading connect and engage with God, then we need to get them singing!

Here are 3 key things that inspire engagement:

SONG SELECTION: selecting good corporate songs is important. Think about it – It’s easy to get familiar with songs on top 40 radio, because they play the same songs every couple of hours. This is not the case in the church, because people are meeting once a week, and you have 30-40 minutes with them. And the average church-goer is not listening to the latest worship music like you are, so while they may hear a top 40 song 52 times in a week, they may only hear the song you’ve selected 15-20 times in a year. This is what makes your song selection is so important. Look at it this way – if you average 5 songs a Sunday, you have 260 slots in the year. That may seem like a lot, but when you factor in repetition (see below), that number feels considerably smaller. There are no “throw away” songs on Sunday mornings. Every song is a “silver bullet.” This is where personal preference has to be taken into account. A good question to ask is, “Will the largest cross-section of the congregation connect with this song?” Remember, it’s not about you, but the people you are leading. For some of you, this topic is a big issue for a couple of reasons. Maybe it’s because you get bored with a song really quickly. Remember, you may listen to a song ad nauseam to learn it, so by the time you actually lead it, you’re already bored with it (see our blog entitled “Worship Fatigue”). Don’t punish the congregation because you’re weary of a song. Second, sometimes as worship leaders we get caught up in valuing artistry over ministry. Songs that are wordy, have rangy melodies, odd chord changes or strange time signatures may speak to artistic expression, but fall flat on the congregation because they’re too hard to follow. Keep in mind the average person in your church has a low music IQ.

REPETITION: Not only is the song selection important, but the repetition in which those songs are sung. Back to top 40 radio. The reason songs are in the top 40 is because they are played ALOT. And the reason they are played a lot is because people love them. Think about it – when your favorite song comes on, you turn it up and sing along. Why? Because you know the song! Familiarity breeds engagement. Songs need to be in a rotation that allows your people to get familiar. This means less new songs and more repetition. Remember, you have limited slots, so use them wisely. Here is a good practice – once you have selected a song, use it 3 times the first month, then about once a month after. That’s 14 times that song will be played in a year, which may seem like a lot to you, but not to the average church-goer. On the contrary, it allows them to close their eyes, raise their hands and connect with God, which is the goal.

SET SELECTION: Now that you are being selective about the songs you choose and the frequency by which you use them, the set selection process gets a little easier. Remember, worship music didn’t start yesterday. It has a rich history. One of the tragedies in the church today is the worship leader who is so set on being “cutting edge” that he neglects anything not recorded in the last 18 months. So, in selecting your set, prayerfully consider ALL that’s available to you. Hymns, worship songs that you wore out 5 years ago…remember, just because you were tired of it doesn’t mean you your congregation doesn’t miss it. When planning, you might ask the question, “Is there a song the church has connected with in the past?” While “Shout To The Lord” might not be hip today, it may be the very thing your set needs on a particular week. Don’t be afraid to go “old school” every once in a while. In those moments, engagement will go up as people connect with a song God has and still wants to use. I’m pretty sure He NEVER gets tired of songs. Again, keep in mind that the goal of every set should be full-on engagement, so envision the set from start to finish. Imagine every transition, key relationship, how the lyrics interact with each other, tempo, time signature – take a pre-trip excursion before taking your congregation on the journey. And two more quick tips on set selection: First, open with something familiar. Communication 101 says grab your listener in the first 30 seconds. If you don’t engage the congregation in the beginning, you will be fighting an uphill battle all morning. Second, don’t do more than one new song in your set. Surround a new song with familiar songs. Otherwise, you are creating “exit” points in the service in terms of engagement, and once they’ve checked out, it’s hard to get them back.

If your people are staring at you, take heart! Begin implementing these 3 things and see if it activates your congregation to sing. Beyond that, ask God to give you wisdom in your quest to get your people engaged.

There’s a scene in the movie Moneyball where baseball manager, Billy Beane (played by Brad Pitt) is talking to his lead scout. They’re arguing about trying a new method of putting together a team that is different than traditional scouting. In the middle of the argument, Billy is fed up and says says, “adapt or die.” What a great statement! And it applies pretty much everywhere you look. Case in point – Blockbuster is closing their final 300 stores – at their peak they had 6,000 stores. As a start-up company, they completely revolutionized the video industry. They started with VHS rentals and moved to DVDs as the technology changed. However, when video streaming entered the scene, they didn’t anticipate or adapt to the newer technology quickly and effectively. Enter Netflix and exit Blockbuster. Adapt or die.

In the worship arena, there are many opinions and models on how to effectively present the gospel in a church environment. There is a traditional mindset, a liturgical mindset, a contemporary mindset, a modern mindset, a “blended” mindset, and so on. And, getting into conversations with hard-liners in any of these genres can be at your own peril. It’s surprising how emotional it can get, with some mistaking style and preference for right and wrong. And I’m sure you already know this, but there is more than one right answer where this is concerned. While methodology helps contextualize the Gospel, it’s less about the method (which is likely about you), and more about giving an accurate picture of Jesus.

Methodology doesn’t change the message. As worship leaders, we carry a timeless message, but the method we use to communicate should be changing and adapting because culture is always evolving. Because of that, we need to be aware of changes in culture and willing to adapt our methodology accordingly. As Albert Einstein once said, “The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.” Having said that, no method trumps the power of God. That is why you experience God at a Passion Conference, at Brooklyn Tabernacle, and in a dirt floor metal building in Mexico. Methods are important, but only to contextualize the Gospel to make sure the hearer “gets it.”

Obviously, the unwillingness to adapt has natural consequences, like irrelevance, or even worse, death. Now, the word relevant has become a dirty word of late, due to overuse or misuse. But relevancy is all about connection. Do you desire to connect with people in a way they understand? If so, here is the key: It’s not about you and your comfort level, but your willingness to adapt and grow for the sake of the gospel. Here are some things to think about as you navigate through the new year.

Go where God is leading – It has to start here, in a daily relationship with God. And this is so important for “professional Christians.” Don’t let anything trump your daily time with God. It is the fuel for your ministry. It is where you will receive direction. And, if you are neglecting it, it is hurting both you and those you lead. If you don’t adapt to that concept, you will not have longevity in ministry, and the ministry you currently have will be a shell of what it could be.

Stretch yourself – If you are too locked in to one style (Tomlin, Bethel, Hillsong, Elevation, Houghton, the Baptist Hymnal), time to stretch yourself and start listening to a larger cross section of the music that’s out there and available. If you don’t repackage hymns, maybe it’s time to start. Use a choir one week if you normally don’t. Or, if you normally do, give it a rest for a week. Vary instrumentation, whatever. Just experiment outside yourself – your people will appreciate the change.

Hang out with people who are not like you – Too often, we insulate ourselves with like-minded people. While it’s wise to have an inner circle, if you are not spending time regularly with people who see things differently, you are probably not putting yourself in a position to learn and grow. There is wisdom in diversity of thought and/or action. All truth is God’s truth, so don’t be afraid to get outside your box and add some variety to those you spend time with. “Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” (George Bernard Shaw)

Ask more questions of the people you lead – If people are not connecting and engaging under your worship leadership, you have two options: keep powering through, or ask “why” to the people you are leading. This is a scary proposition, because you will get lots of self-serving comments that you will have to filter through to get good information. But, if you are willing to invest the time, themes often emerge. For instance, if out of 20 people, 5 say it’s too loud (25%), then it’s probably too loud. If you hear from 5 people that you do too many (or not enough) new songs, ad lib too much, are distracted by your fashion choices, then it is something to take a hard look at, because if 5 of 20 are saying it, many others are likely thinking it. Asking questions takes thick skin, a willingness to really listen, and respond accordingly if change is in order.

The bottom line is this, Billy Beane was right, if we’re not adapting, we’re dying. The message never changes for us – the Gospel is the Gospel – but our methodology must be held loosely. Your willingness to change, grow or adapt could well be a matter of life…or death.

2014 is here and, as usual, I find myself setting the usual goals: lose weight, save money, read the Bible cover to cover, do something unusual (for me, anyway, like run a 10K or something like that…). But here are 3 goals for 2014 that really are important to me.

1. Look more like Jesus. I don’t say this tritely, and I’m not just talking about the whole beard fad. (no offense…it looks great on you. I, on the other hand, would look like “Cookie” in an old western. End of digression.) When I compare my life to the life of Jesus, I find that I don’t stack up very well. I am selfish, greedy, impatient, judgmental and thoughtless…and that’s on a good day. Take away the fact that he was deity, and he was still an incredibly intriguing man. He loved in such a compelling way. He didn’t care what other people thought. He was crazy smart, especially in the way he used stories to make people look at things in a new way. He was undeterred in his mission, bleeding (literally) for the cause. Now, add to that he was God in the flesh, and it becomes mind-blowing. Miracles, healings, signs and wonders…and here’s the coolest part – Jesus said that I would do all that and even greater things. (John 14:12) So, one goal is to experience Jesus to the point that I begin to look like him a little more than I do now, in heart and action – more love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control…

2. Be more concerned about people’s hearts than their actions. I am frustrated that mainstream Christianity is most known for what we are against, but I will join in. I am AGAINST ranting about the social issues of today, more concerned about people’s ACTIONS than their HEARTS. We (and I am generalizing) seem more concerned with behavior modification than with the depths of a person’s heart. And, unfortunately, we’ll never get the opportunity to hear a person’s heart if we are spending all our time screaming for his actions to change. Remember when Jesus stood in front of the firing squad on behalf of the woman caught in adultery? (John 8) He didn’t lead with, “You deserve what you’re about to get, so get your act together, then I’ll defend you.” Quite the opposite. He was willing to be stoned on her behalf. His act of LOVE is what gave him the platform in her life to say, “Go and sin no more.” Would people be willing to say that about me? Will I defend those whose lifestyle I vehemently disagree with in order to show them the LOVE of the Gospel? What if they never change? Can I love them in spite of? I’m quite sure this will be difficult to achieve, unless #1 becomes a reality.

3. Live more sacrificially. I need to be more sacrificial in every area of my life – with my time, with my money, with my talent, with my knowledge. I hoard all of these things. I want to give my time to things that matter. I want to serve more generously. I want to give my financial resources away, even at the expense of discomfort. I want to give away my talent, not merely when dollars are attached. I want to give away what I have learned and am learning, in order to help the next generation. This is a God-sized goal. And again, without Jesus, probably not realistic…

A worship pastor friend of mine is mentoring a couple of guys for the next year, and he reached out to me to ask what I think a young person who wants to be a worship pastor should know. Because we as an organization spend a fair amount of time evaluating and coaching worship leaders, we see things that seem to consistently plague leaders of all ages. We have developed Worship Axioms, or phrases we use a lot, to define how we feel about some of these areas. Here are four I shared with my friend:

1. It is not, nor has it ever been, about you. (HUMILITY)

I have read a lot of articles recently about the self-focused nature of the younger generation (our generation taught them well…). Especially pertaining to public ministry, unless everything about you is pointing people to Jesus, you are either misusing the mantle of leadership given to you by God, intentionally or otherwise, or you were never called in the first place. Either way, in order to have longevity in ministry, he must become greater and you must become less. (John 3:30) Look it up. It’s biblical. I promise.

2. If you’re not going to spend quality time with Jesus everyday, go find something else to do. (COMMITMENT)

It’s telling of our culture that this has to be spelled out, but I say this as a guy who spent a lot of my public ministry spending very little private time with Jesus. Lack of time with Jesus breeds a shallow and hollow ministry. As my pastor has told me on many occasions, people know when you are not spending time with Jesus. You may be able to fool them for a while, but people sense depth. And, if it’s a struggle to spend regular time with Jesus, there’s a heart issue there that needs investigation. Knowing lyrics is your job, but knowing Jesus is your foundation and calling. Seriously, if, for whatever reason, you are not willing to submit your life to Jesus daily, do something else. Otherwise, you are faking it, which makes you an actor, not a worship leader – two completely different professions (or at least they should be).

3. Get rid of the music stand! (PREPARATION)

Seriously. If you want to be taken seriously as a leader, lose the stand. First of all, it speaks to preparation. As a worship pastor, I was asked the question often, “What do you do all week?” It used to frustrate me, because the job can be demanding, but just for fun, let’s take it to its lowest common denominator. You have to prepare five songs for Sunday. Five. And they’re probably not all new songs. (If they are, then that’s a different topic entitled, Why Your Congregation is Not Singing With You.) So, if you can’t get five songs ready from memory in six days, you are not very good at what you do and should find the reason behind it – procrastination, poor time-management, running on empty (see #2 above) or you have that brain thing Drew Barrymore had in 50 First Dates, and we’ll give you a pass on that one. In addition, I weekly see worship “leaders” staring at a music stand when there a couple hundred sets of eyes staring at them, longing for engagement. I liken it to trying to have a conversation with someone who is texting while talking to you. Frustrating isn’t it? That’s how people feel when you slave your music stand.

4. The lobby is your green room. (CONNECTION)

This is not original thought. I read it somewhere, but the principle is so true. If you are hanging out back stage and not engaged with the people you are leading, or sitting with them in the worship service, you are projecting you have rock star status (And if you are actually lobbying for what is stocked in the green room, WOW is all I can say…). If you want to see engagement go up with your congregation, spend time in the lobby before and after every service among the people. Build relationships with people. This will go further to building rapport with your people than anything you say or do on stage. Now, there are other engagement factors like song selection, verbal and non-verbal communication, but personal relationship with the people you lead will go further than any mechanics you can learn. So, if you are looking for a place to hang out, err on the side of hanging with the people you are called to lead.

Of course, I’m sure you have some great Worship Axioms as well. What are your top three or four?

A new friend of mine recently asked me to spend some time with him and help him learn to follow Jesus more passionately. I get excited about that kind of stuff, so I gave him an emphatic “absolutely!” We met where most conversations that lead to revival take place: Chili’s. Over a bowl of Chicken Enchilada soup, I listened as he told me his story. He alluded to a very sordid past that, while he wasn’t specific, seemed to indicate he might have deserved some jail time. And after trusting Jesus as Savior several years back, he went through a painful divorce that rocked his world. However, he recently married a Godly woman who has brought into sharp focus his need to understand a walk with Jesus more so he can lead his family well.

As I listened, he kept using the word “Savior” to describe Jesus, which is certainly true. He said more than once, “I just want to serve my Savior well.” But his heart was crying out, “There has to be more to it than this.” He was desperate to connect the spiritual dots in his life, but there was a disconnect that he couldn’t put his finger on.

This is a systemic problem, born and bred in today’s version of Christianity. We have gotten people hyper-focused on Jesus as “Savior” but forgotten that he also needs to be Lord. As a result, we have a ton of “Christians” sitting just across the line of faith, still confused, wondering if this is all there is. I get it – I used to ask the same question as a Christ follower. While Jesus was my Savior, he wasn’t my Lord, meaning he had secured a spot for me in heaven, but wasn’t changing the way I lived daily. I was living a powerless existence. The God of the universe – the creator of it all – was supposedly living in me, but I had no power in my life. There weren’t signs of his presence, nothing unexplainable. Paul talks about it in 2 Timothy –

“…having a form of godliness, but denying his power.”

If that describes you, if you can relate, then admit with me that it doesn’t make much sense at all. Here is the point: If Jesus is Savior without being Lord, we are restricting his power only to save us from eternal damnation (dramatic pause), but not to change the way we live our lives in the mean-time. I mean, if everything in your life can be rationalized, explained or reasoned away, if there is nothing in your life that is impossible apart from God’s intervention, then you’re probably not living the way God intended. If the One who spoke the galaxies into being lives inside you, how in the world could your life be described as anything but supernatural? It comes down to who controls of your life: It’s either you or God. And unless you possess some superhuman, hulk-like power comic book characters are made of, the power for a supernatural life is only available in one place. (hint: it’s not about you.)

I hope this sparks an interest in you to pursue the power that’s available. I know it’s there, because it resides in every person who has trusted Jesus as Savior. 2 Peter 1:3 says,

“His divine POWER has given us everything we need for a Godly life.”

EVERYTHING we need is available through HIS power. This is pretty macro, but I will be getting more detailed in future posts.

Think about this in your own life: Do you find yourself existing wondering if there’s more? Is there anything in your life that would be considered supernatural or unexplainable? Respond here on the blog page and let’s discuss.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths.” - Proverbs 3:5-6

As a parent of three daughters, two teenagers and one “grown-up,” I get plenty of opportunities to be a life-coach. If you are a parent, you know reasoning with/coaching kids is like threading a needle or playing golf – tedious, frustrating, exhausting, fill in the blank. There are several opportunities for conversational forks in the road; deal-making, smoke-screening, misunderstanding, or flat-out defiance. On many occasions my “coaching” is met with a blank stare that loudly exclaims, “I don’t get it,” a smirk that says “You’re an idiot,” or a look of complete disdain that shouts, “No way am I doing that!” Often, the more I try to give a more in-depth explanation, it just gets worse, until the conversation regresses to basic parent speak.

Me: “Just do it.”

Kid: “Why?”

Me: “Because I said so.”

Kid: “That’s not fair.”

Me: “Life isn’t fair. Just do it.”

Recently, I went all philosophical on one of my kids…

Kid: “That doesn’t even make sense.”

Me: “Understanding is not a prerequisite for obedience.”

Kid: “Huh?”

Me: “Just do it.”

As a “grown up,” my conversations with God often mirror the ones I have with my kids. And recently, I heard God throw my words back in my face, “Understanding is not a prerequisite for obedience.”

When God makes an ask, his desired answer, just like we parents, is YES. Not deal-making (Ananias and Saphira in Acts 5), smoke-screening (King Saul in 1 Samuel 15), misunderstanding (Peter, pre-crucifixion) or flat-out defiance (Jonah). Just YES. Most importantly, I don’t need to fully understand, or even like, the plan in order to be obedient. The most important thing for me to remember is that He is God and I am not. He has a plan. In fact, it is a very well thought out plan, both for my good and his glory (Ephesians 2:10) So, whether or not I understand, I have to obey, trust and follow. My prayer is that God will continue to be patient but firm with me and say, “Just do it because I said so.”

I was emailing back and forth with a worship pastor friend recently and sent him several garden-variety questions about his church, where he has been for about a year. You know, questions like, “How is the new building?” “Is the church growing?” “How is the worship culture there?” “Are people engaged?” The last question I asked, however, was a little more personal and revealing – “How is your heart?” His reply was, “That is a loaded question.” He went on to tell me that he is struggling in some of his relationships there, which revealed some past hurt from his previous job. In short, his struggle has revealed an open wound that is affecting his interactions with others.

In thinking about it, I started thinking about my daily interactions with people. Am I quick tempered/impatient? Do I argue a lot, needing to be right? Am I sarcastic? Am I defensive? Do I feel like no one is for me? Am I lethargic and unmotivated? Do I find myself critical of others? As I look through this list, I often evaluate with the intention of fixing whatever is broken. For instance, argue less, stop talking about others, fight through the doldrums. But realistically, all of these things are not the problem (not to excuse the behavior), but a symptom of something deeper going on. It has to do with the state of my heart.

Life is hard. If you are living and breathing, you have likely experienced hurt or pain in your life at the hand of another. And if those wounds are not fully dealt with, it will affect your interactions in the future. You can be great at identifying and attempting to change poor behavior, but if you want to get to the real issue behind the behavior, you’ve got to be willing to dig a little deeper. Treating symptoms is like giving Advil to someone with a brain tumor. It may stop the headache, but the tumor is still going to kill you. It is the same thing. It all comes back to the heart.

Proverbs 4:23 states, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Life comes from a healthy heart, but the antithesis is true from an unhealthy one. If unprotected, it can bring about pain, hurt, even death. A wounded heart repels others. In other words, while it takes time, introspection, soul-searching, courage and being still in order to evaluate, getting your heart healthy will change the way you view yourself and everyone around you. And a healthy heart is magnetic.

As a pastor or ministry professional, this is especially important. When you sift through what you bring to ministry – all of your knowledge, wisdom, natural gifting – the most important thing you bring to ministry is your heart. Think about it: Imparting wisdom without heart is arrogance. Serving without heart is self-promotion. Leading worship without heart is performance. Following the example of Jesus without heart is legalism. So, if your heart is unhealthy, it is hurting what God wants to do through you.

Today, be brave enough to take your heart to Jesus and ask the question, “Jesus, how is my heart?”

For more information about Greg or The David Project, visit our website at thedavidproject.com.

As consultants, we are often called on to help churches define their worship culture. The typical defining “buzz words” today are traditional, contemporary, and now, modern. And, as modern goes, Bethel Church, which also spawned Jesus Culture, has become a prominent face of modern worship in the U.S., Their new project, For The Sake of the World, does not disappoint. They have managed to differentiate themselves in a market once dominated by Hillsong’s seemingly once a week live offerings. There is a great overall guitar-driven rock vibe to the album, with emotional, rootsy vocals from Brian and Jenn Johnson and Jeremy Riddle. Like every project, there are keepers and forgettable tracks. Here are some of the keepers:

To Our God:a great call to worship. It begins pretty chill, but, as my friend John Sherrill says, “wait for it…” It builds throughout, and you will get lost in worship during the declarative bridge, “Make his praise glorious, glorious, glorious…” Another friend has been using this song at his church for several months. It’s a keeper – very corporate.

This Is Amazing Grace: An extremely corporate, gospel-centered song. The first time I heard it, I felt like I already knew it. “This is amazing grace, this is unfailing love. That you would take my place, that you would bear my cross. You would lay down your life, that I would be set free. Jesus, I sing for all that you’ve done for me.” I bet you just sang it as you read the lyrics and don’t even realize it!

In Your Light: Ok, this one is a bit of a wild card, but it could work in the right context. It’s a little campy, with a dose of Hillsong stadium “WHOAS”, but it is catchy. “You’ve turned my tears and sadness into such joy and gladness. My heart can’t keep it in – I’m shouting, shouting!” I recommended it to one of our clients, Lone Star Cowboy Church, who could give it a great rockabilly flair.

For the Sake of the World: This title track should be an anthem for the church-at-large, to let the fire of God propel us to have passion for the world to know Jesus. “For the sake of the world, burn like a fire in me. Light a flame in my soul for every eye to see. For the sake of the world, burn like a fire in me.” I connect to it because it is externally focused. There are not enough songs like this out there, in my opinion.

This new project from Bethel is great for personal worship, but also has a few corporate gems that the church needs to be singing. Give it a listen, give the songs a try and let us know your thoughts.

I was recently in a worship service where the worship leader was praying between songs. Normally, I would be praying, or at least agreeing in prayer with him, but for whatever reason, I was really listening intently to his words, and they made no sense whatsoever. His prayer was ripe with spiritual references chained together to create a tapestry of nonsense, like, “Creator God, we thank you for the reconciliation of the Spirit and the repentance of those who have gone before us to make a way for you in Jesus.” HUH? Or, “Father, we pray that everyone who has come here in this place to experience all of us and the one who made us in the image of the Father, we fall before you today and pray that we will be glorified because of the goodness you have given in Jesus.” HUH? I’ve also heard worship leaders tell stories that I’m sure had a point during inception, but got lost in translation, like, “This song talks about being consumed from the inside out, and it reminds me of the other day when my wife got frustrated with me because every time I take off my socks, I put them in the hamper inside out, and she hates to have to handle my dirty socks…” So, dirty socks are equivalent to a dirty soul…HUH? Yeah, I could do this all day, but here is the point: If you are going to be in front of people, you have a responsibility to BE PREPARED and HAVE SOMETHING OF SUBSTANCE TO SAY.

Effective communication begins with preparation. If you are a worship leader, then you are keenly aware Sunday happens every seven days. That means once a week you will have the chance to lead people through an experience with both musical and verbal communication. This is where I believe is a pretty big disconnect. I see a trend where much value is placed on music and artistry, and little value is placed on what happens between each song. As a result, worship leaders tend to spend a majority of time planning and executing musical proficiency (song selection, arrangements, musicianship) and little time thinking about transitions and communication (what happens when the music stops). A large part of your role as a worship leader is facilitating a dialogue between the people in the seats and their Creator. You can either make it “awkward first date” dialogue – uncomfortable silence or nervous rambling – or comfortable and seamless, creating an environment conducive to connection with God. So, give the same priority to planning what you will say as you do what you will play. Two thoughts on this: Script it and rehearse it.

SCRIPT IT

Putting your transitions on paper will help organize your thoughts. So, script, edit and memorize. This flies in the face of spontaneity, which most prefer, but the very reason to script is because shooting from the hip rarely ends well unless you are an exceptional communicator. Remember, these are still your words, you just thought about them ahead of time – and the Spirit can speak to you on Tuesday as you prepare as well as he can on Sunday in the moment.

REHEARSE IT

Rehearsing those thoughts in context will help you feel the transitions real time. From a time perspective, keep your thoughts to 90 seconds or less. As a rule, if you can’t say it in that time frame, it’s probably best not to say it at all. Of course, there are always exceptions, but don’t let your “inner preacher” take over and milk a concept for 5 minutes, especially if you didn’t prepare in advance. That is a recipe for rambling, and may provide someone the opportunity to “exit” the worship experience.

Talent will carry you while music is playing, but when the music stops, your true heart will be on display. Realistically, what you say, or pray, tells a much bigger story than what you sing. What and how you sing reveals your talent, what you say reveals your heart. So, take time to prepare your thoughts. It could be the very thing that connects someone to God.

The word AWESOME has emerged as an accepted adjective for all things good. I use it liberally. For instance, there is a burger place in our city called The Counter. Have you ever had one of their hamburgers? Are they AWESOME? Litmus test: Do I have “reverential respect” for them? The new Taken movie – Is it AWESOME? It certainly inspires fear, but mixed with reverence? Did you hear the new Mumford and Sons album? AWESOME? Well, it inspires wonder, as in I wonder why so many people like them. Sorry, just keeping it real.

Unfortunately, because the word has become so commonplace, its meaning is diminished. In fact, Jesus probably falls into that category. First of all, He tends to fall in a list of things from a good hamburger to a great new song. Second, we have culturally created a perception of Jesus as our friend, buddy, homeboy, in an effort to make him relevant and attractive to the world around us. News flash: He doesn’t need your help to make him seem relevant– in fact, if you look up AWESOME in the dictionary, his picture is right there! As leaders, we have a responsibility to help our people understand the real nature of Jesus. Here are a few AWESOME attributes to help stoke the fire.

1. JESUS IS GOD. He is not simply God’s son. He is God. Colossians 1:15 says that Jesus is “the image of the invisible God.” That means that Jesus is the full embodiment of God himself. In fact, Hebrews 1:3 says that Jesus is the “exact representation of the Father.” Jesus himself said over and over that if you see him, you see the Father. Contrast that with other world religions. Mohammed – just a man. Buddha – just a man. Confucius – just a man. Jesus – fully man, but fully GOD. Here is the point: Jesus is not our homeboy, worthy of friendship – He is our God and worthy of worship. That’s magnificent, wondrous, astonishing – AWESOME!

2. JESUS IS CREATOR. Again, in Colossians 1, Paul states, “By Him (Jesus) all things were created…” Let that sink in for a sec. If Jesus created it all, then Genesis takes on a whole new meaning to me. Who said, “Let there be light?” Jesus. Who said, “Let us make man in our image?” Jesus. Who walked with Adam in the garden? Jesus. That’s mind-blowing, staggering, amazing – AWESOME!

3. JESUS IS LORD. Paul goes on to say that Jesus is over all things, “…whether power or rulers or authorities…” Translated: Jesus has no equal. Period. A common misunderstanding pits Jesus against Satan. You know, Jesus is on the right (a blonde hair, blue-eyed republican) while Satan is on the left, in an epic battle for supremacy of the universe. (It’s a joke people! Keep reading.) Biblically speaking, however, the enemies of Jesus are his “footstool.” (Mt. 22:43-44). Jesus has complete and utter supremacy of the universe. He is Lord! We can wrangle over political positions on Facebook for the next few weeks until we are blue, or red, in the face, but Jesus is still Lord over it all. That’s formidable, imposing, overwhelming – AWESOME!

So, this weekend, as we convene in our houses of worship, let’s seek to re-capture the true nature of AWESOME-ness as we focus on JESUS, our God, Creator and Lord. And, for the record, The Counter does have REALLY GOOD burgers.

I found out this week that I’m 5’ 4”. I have been telling people that I’m 5’ 5” for years, but my wife lovingly told me to check my driver’s license the other day. Turns out I’ve been lying about my height more than most women lie about their age. And my weight as it turns out. I see 150 occasionally, but it’s more of a goal than a fact. I think my license needs a computerized changeable readout, because my weight fluctuates more than a political campaign promise. I have a definite plan for weight loss; the execution, however, could use a bit of work. In an effort to explain the method to my madness, here is my weekly eating routine:

TUESDAY: Dull headache from weaning off of Diet Coke (I think it’s linked to Altzheimer’s … I forget), and sugar. Very tired and somewhat irritable, but totally worth it. Down 1 pound. Motivated to go for a run. Tomorrow.

WEDNESDAY: Severe headache. Low energy. Barely functional. What’s one Diet Coke going to hurt? Anything to get rid of the headache. And a single Hot Tamale. Or two. Man, these things are addicting…and hot! I need another Diet Coke to cool my mouth off.

FRIDAY: Movie with the Misses. Large drink for a quarter more? Yes I think I will! Free refill on a bucket of popcorn? What a deal! Avoid eye contact with disappointed wife. Eat most of two buckets on my own. Goes great with the Milk Duds. You know, sweet and salty. Justify that popcorn is a vegetable… No getting around the Milk Duds, though. I will go for a run in the morning.

SATURDAY: Sleep as late as possible to take my mind off food. At home most of the day. Constant grazing. Keep going to the fridge, but nothing looks good, except that package of those slice and bake cookie squares. Why bake them? They are just fine like this. Sneak two an hour for the next 5 hours. Beginning to understand why that Pillsbury guy looks like he does. I can actually feel myself getting fatter… Need to go for a run, but Rocky IV is on. Lay on couch. Cue sugar coma.

SUNDAY: Look in mirror with disgust. I need to go on a diet. Thank God for Monday: New Diet Day. Eat until I’m dizzy, cuz tomorrow is a new beginning. I will definitely go for a run tomorrow…

I love to compete. In everything. All the time. Everything is a game – a puzzle to be solved, a time to beat, a riddle to be solved. I don’t need you in order to compete. I do fine all by myself. How long did it take me to get ready this morning? What is the fastest route to and from the office? Do I weigh less today than I did yesterday? Do I remember Tony Romo’s stats from last Wednesday night? (22 of 29 for 307 yards and 3 TDs, 1 INT, in case you were wondering). Now, I’m not the angry competitor, always agitated, but everything is a game with a win/lose proposition. Here is a question: Is my competitiveness, playful or otherwise, a strength or a weakness? And the answer is…YES.

Most of us don’t immediately think of strength and weakness as related. We often think of our weaknesses as things that cause us the greatest challenges in life. However, when overused, your greatest strength will likely cause the most friction between you and others. Think of it like salt. You know, too much of a good thing…

As leaders, we must see that overuse of our greatest skill can hurt the organization. Here are some examples (And for all you insecure leaders, I wasn’t thinking of your name specifically… as far as you know):

The results-oriented leader who pushes people so hard toward results, and everyone around him gets burned because he is never satisfied, always frustrated.

The empathetic leader who consistently misses deadlines because he is too busy counseling others.

The intelligent leader that can come across rude, arrogant and aloof.

The visionary leader that spends all of his time casting vision and none of his time developing a plan to actually accomplish it.

The creative leader that is so abstract that he can never be nailed down on detail or deadline.

The analytical leader that spends so much time looking at a problem from every angle that he can’t make a decision.

All of these strengths are characteristics that are widely considered important in a great leader. But, look at the weakness in every situation and its effect on the people you are leading when taken to its extreme:

Identify your strengths. It is paramount every leader identify his greatest strengths. There is something refreshing about a leader who is self-aware. To that end, here are two ways to clarify what your strengths are. First, there are several tests out there to help you in that process, and they tend to be pretty accurate as long as you are honest in your responses. Don’t go into the test with a certain outcome in mind, as it may skew the way you take the test. Second, ask those you trust to help you in the process of understanding your strengths. Again, be open to the idea that what you perceive to be your greatest strength may not be what others see.

Evaluate how your strengths are being used. Again, you can’t do this alone. You likely have a blind spot where you are using your strength in excess. Just get this concept in your head – you are not the perfect leader. You still have growing to do. We ALL do. Let the people that work with you the most speak into your life. This is where most leaders fall short. Openness, teachability and humility will be required in this process. And, defensiveness, minimization or excuses will surely subvert the process of getting to the real you.

Develop complimentary strengths. This is just another way of looking at it. You don’t want to minimize where you excel, but build in some other skills that you can complement your strengths. For instance, if you tend to be results-oriented, make sure you are developing the skill of affirmation. Learning to affirm and celebrate (yes, celebrate) every win with your team can help temper your drive for results. If you are intellectual, develop the skill of listening. You’ll be surprised at how valued people feel when they feel that their opinion matters. And who knows? You could actually learn something in the process.

Practice makes perfect. Look for opportunities to practice your complimentary strengths. If you are more people skill oriented (listening, empowering, compassion, affirmation), practice complimentary power skills (results orientation, decisiveness, authoritative accountability), and vice versa. Combining these skills over time will help you become a high-capacity leader.

Finally, but foundationally, remember the words of the apostle Paul:

God said to me, “My graceis sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

At the end of the day, Jesus has to be at the center of it all. He will shore up your weaknesses and temper your strengths through a rich daily, committed relationship with him. He made you the way you are for one reason: to join HIM in HIS plan for the world. So, let’s be the best leaders we can be, for the glory of the one who made us!

Leadership expert John Maxwell says leadership is influence; nothing more, nothing less. I believe that to be true. As leaders, the ultimate test of leadership is followership. Social media has capitalized on this concept by giving us the opportunity to broadcast our every thought to all those within the sound of our voice, figuratively speaking. Twitter even uses the term – followers. Well, this morning, God asked me a question I was not prepared for – “Who are you following?”

I know I am constantly given the opportunity to exert influence on others. As a consultant, people pay me to have an opinion. The challenge in this is the more I believe my opinion matters, the more I desire to give it. Even as I write this blog, I am questioning my motives. How am I supposed to know when to speak and when to be silent? I know part of leadership means there are “God” appointed moments that are fashioned for me to share my thoughts, but I also know don’t live in an episode of Growing Pains, where the soft music starts playing behind me as my cue to tell you the moral of the story. (Watch an episode – it happens around the 23-minute mark in every show.) That would actually be a solution – my own “it’s time to give my opinion” theme music. But who cues that music – me or God? I am a mess.

Let me get to the point: I need to be less concerned about INFLUENCING and more concerned about being INFLUENCED. I am learning that as a Godly leader, my influence should only be pass-through, whether by word or example, which means my level of Godly influence is directly proportionate to my ability to yield to the voice of the Spirit in all things all the time. In fact, if I am not completely connected to the voice of the Spirit, my “wise” counsel to others could actually be diverting them from what God may actually want because it is my thought and not His. That is dangerous territory with heavy responsibility. So, here are some steps I am taking to be a better follower.

Stay connected. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray continually.” The thought behind this is to be in a constant attitude of prayer, ready to be interrupted on a moment’s notice by the voice of God. When Yvonne and I were dating, we would spend hours on the phone, sometimes falling asleep with the phone to our ear. I need to think of my prayer life as a phone call that never ends – a constant connection with the Creator. In Psalm 1, David says he meditates on the law of the Lord “day and night.” There was not a specific time he met with God. It was a constant connection. If I am constantly connected through prayer and the Word, I cannot help being influenced and transformed by God.

Talk Less. Listen more. James 1:19 says I should be “quick to listen and slow to speak.” I am realizing both are equally important, and the undergirding value in both is HUMILITY. I have to train myself in this concept: My opinion doesn’t matter. Let that sink in for a second. For a leader, that is hard to choke down, but it’s true. I have NOTHING of value to offer the world outside of God’s influence in my life. In fact, as I think about it, real wisdom is often displayed through restraint. As Proverbs 10:19 states, “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.” My translation: The more I talk, the odds are I will say something stupid or inappropriate. So, it is imperative I listen intently to the voice of the Spirit (which, by the way, is only discernible by practicing #1), listen to what is going on in the lives of those around me, and see if there is some sort of connection between the two. But the goal can’t be to seek that connection for the sake of giving good advice (cue the theme music). God may want me to be silent on an issue because He is dealing with the person directly in a way I can’t see. I don’t make that call. I just listen. And I can’t listen if I am talking.

Leaders can be difficult to lead. But I am learning the Godliest leaders are the most faithful followers. If I am not willing and determined to follow hard after God, listen for His voice and refrain from spouting off my opinion, I am putting a serious ceiling on my ability to lead. So, today I will seek to stay connected, talk less and listen more. What are your thoughts? Do you find this the norm or the exception in leaders today? I am now listening…